At times, the production reminded me of a glitzy Las Vegas show revue…Nevertheless, that glitter and glitz flee quickly away leaving me feeling distant from the emotional element surrounding Ms. Summer’s checkered past in a failed relationship with one of her many lovers.

It is in this risk taking where ‘The Negroes Are Congregating’ becomes a powerful form of an immediate and live connection we make with others and to others…To be honest, ‘The Negroes Are Congregating’ is a risky play that sometimes did create discomfort for me and for my invited guests…

‘The Events’ at least takes us into the arena where the audience is challenged with the many elements involved in such a tragedy. Severe right wing politics and anti-immigration sentiments are the surface of the story, but Greig combs further depths.

It was twoish hours well spent. You can’t complain about an evening that includes Tchaikovsky, feathers, fans, and makeup by the kilogram. I don’t know if I’ll ever see eight men en pointe at the same time again.

Ms. Benger is equally outfitted with a spectacular range of voice required for challenging Sondheim music. Her opening ‘Sunday in the Park’ sets the standard for the balance of the show.

I like sketch comedy, and I love the idea of a sketch comedy festival…But at a certain point, the folks behind TOsketchfest have to think about whether or not it’s worth trying to realise their vision on a shoestring… I’m sure they’ll put on great shows and sell a lot of eight-dollar Steamwhistles. But every night like last night only does the sketch scene harm. 

This is not the whimsical song of rose-cheeked von Trapp children skipping over mountains escaping Nazis. Christopher Morris and Daniel Brooks’ project is a harsh and blinding invasion of hypocrisy – the audience is not meant to be comforted.

Oh, did I also say this Canadian premiere is one helluva bold and riveting production with enthralling performances? It most definitely is…

In 1992, Brian Francis put a personal ad in a local newspaper. He was 21 years old, not completely out of the closet, and looking for love. Twenty-five men responded to his ad, twelve with whom Francis met up. He did not reply to the other thirteen - until now.

There were moments either of raucous excitement or extreme intensity where Ms. Parmentier and Mr Van Houtven’s voices did not carry well and I couldn’t hear them clearly and in what they were saying. Hopefully, they will be mindful as performances continue since so much is conveyed to us through their dialogue.

For the first couple of minutes once ‘Brain Storm’ started, I was perplexed by what I was seeing with the movement of the actors…then there was my epiphany.

t is the artistic and physical magnificence of these dancers that elevates the searing indigenous story of a circle of life and the call of respect for the earth…Stunning visuals are rooted in the acrobatic flexibility of the performers. Many moments of amazing solo work contrasts with moments of exhilarating intertwining of duets and groups.

‘Lady Sunrise’, which premiered recently at Toronto’s Factory Theatre, is steeped in glamour but strained through harsh realism.

Heightened moments of tension were beautifully staged while one person spoke and the other two remained in complete intensity and focus without any upstaging in Grand Canyon’s Theatre production of Canadian playwright Judith Thompson’s ‘Watching Glory Die’.

I was taken on a wild adventure ride through an immersive technology and multimedia to the urban jungle of Mowgli’s childhood in the forests of India…And I loved every 65 minutes of it.

Star power aside, this cast is lead by the searing work of Rachel VanDuzer as daughter Ava.  The only non-academic in the story, Ms. VanDuzer must distinguish herself as an innocent casualty

I felt those same tears welling up in my eyes at the conclusion of this phenomenal ‘Caroline, or Change’ that I also felt at the conclusion of the Broadway and Canadian productions of ‘Come from Away’. I looked around and there were other audience members who quietly wiped said tears from their eyes as well.

Uproarious! Funny bone tickling entertainment skewered with razor sharp edges! Take your sweetie, take your lover, take your partner, take your friends, take your family, take them all to ‘Second City Totally Likes You’.

They do! They really do.

What was intriguing about Stewart Arnott’s direction of ‘Marjorie Prime’ and Gillian Gallow’s design work was the effort made to not make this look like a science fiction piece.  This underscores the futuristic story with even more integrity..

An initial look at ‘Jesus Hopped The A Train’ plot might draw comparisons to television’s long running ‘Law and Order’. There’s more going on here, however, as these characters have been cut open by events regarding how the legal system has permeated their lives. And it’s for the worst.